A mask creates an instant character-persona for the wearer, be it Masquerade Masks, Venetian Masks, Feather Masks, Animal Masks, Traditional Masks or any other style of mask. The mask itself does the work of creating the character; the wearer does not need to do this through any great effort, or facial expression. To fully maximize the character of the mask, one must allow the mask to come alive and do its job. All masks have a character that upon correctly wearing jumps to life. To unleash your masks potential, ones facial expressions are replaced by the mask and by what is known as 'the gaze'. All well made masks will have this quality.

Upon putting on your mask it will appear instantly to be gazing - looking, watching, observing. This is the masks character, it has come to life. To master the gaze, so that it is not lost, one must allow the masks character to dominate and not project one's own ideas and experiences into the mask, once the wearer does this the character of the mask is lost and so is the gaze. One must keep in mind that the mask, once put on is no longer inanimate, it comes to life and IS your job as the wearer is to allow it to BE. To maintain the gaze, one must acquire a sort of tunnel vision, the mask has one eye and this can be imagined to be at the end of its nose. The wearer looking out of this eye creates the tunnel vision, isolating the character of the mask. One literally follows ones nose.

Once you have mastered the gaze, the wearer needs to bring the rest of their body into play to follow and accentuate the character of the mask. The neck can be used independently from the shoulders and trunk of the body to make exaggerated moves of the head, accentuating character, or of the lower body. Note that to keep ones audience engaged one should have a minimum of one eye and the nose of the mask viewable to ones audience at all times, whilst on stage and exiting, whether it be at the theatre, in the ballroom, or the garden, otherwise the audience looses the character & the gaze of the mask. One should never bring ones hands to the mask and touch it. The hands are an extension of the character and should not be brought to where they can inhibit the gaze.

There are many types of masks each with their own character, one to suit all, for all occasions, be it a ball, the prom, a party, a theatre night or a fancy dress party.

A mask always wants to be animated, so wear your masks often and enjoy the gaze.